The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1999
Donald F. Zapata, Houston, TX (US);
Elias H. Codding, Houston, TX (US);
Delta Technology Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A sorter is provided for sorting unacceptable agricultural products or foreign objects from acceptable ones. Preferably, the sorter is a monochromatic one performed as the products pass in streams past an illuminated viewing station. The view station includes a plurality of aligned optical sensors. The optical sensors sense the reflected light from the stream of product passing the optical station and form electrical signals indicative of the sensed light. The electrical signals are then processed and the product is accepted or rejected based on its optical characteristics. The sorter may illuminate the product stream with a source capable of generating a visible light spectra or with a source capable of generating a near-infrared spectra. Each illumination source having specific mounting sockets in the sorter. Additionally, the sorter is capable of operating a near-IR source at a significantly reduced voltage whereby the working life of the source is greatly extended.